Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Which Card Reigns Supreme?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and the The Platinum Card^® from American Express are premium cards that can enhance just about every aspect of your travel experience. While they have steep annual fees, people who travel on the regular may find it easy to recoup that cost every year in rewards and perks.

But when we put the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum head to head, which one is better? The answer is: it depends.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Core benefits and fees

	Chase Sapphire Reserve	Amex Platinum
Card type	Travel	Travel
Credit card issuer	Chase	American Express
Welcome bonus	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months
Annual Fee	$550	$695 (Terms apply)
Earning rate	5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases	5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Redemption methods	1 cent per point for cash back and gift cards 1.5 cents per point on travel booked through Chase	0.6 cents per point for statement credits Up to 1 cent per point for travel and gift cards
Other benefits	$300 annual travel credit Application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck	Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash Up to $100 annually in Saks Fifth Avenue credits Application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Up to $199 back annually on a CLEAR® Plus membership Up to $200 annually in airline fee credits Up to $200 annually in hotel statement credits through American Express Travel on select hotels Up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership Up to $240 ($20 per month) annually in digital entertainment credits for Disney+, The Disney Bundle, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, or The New York Times Note that certain benefits require enrollment
Authorized user fee	$75	$195
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Credit needed	Excellent	Excellent, Good
	Learn more	Learn more

Why are these cards so popular?

Both cards are incredibly popular among enthusiasts of credit cards. Let's take a look at why. 

Rewards programs

Between these two premium credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card offers a better rewards program, with more opportunities to earn bonus rewards and more valuable redemption options when you redeem within the rewards program. Remember, though, that both cards allow you to transfer points to travel partners, giving you the chance to maximize their value.

Rewards flexibility

The Chase Travel℠ program is one of the most versatile rewards programs available, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve gives cardholders the chance to make the most out of it.

As a cardholder, you can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for cash back and gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you use your rewards to book travel through Chase, you’ll receive 50% more value, making each point worth 1.5 cents.

If you’re a savvier card user, there’s an opportunity to squeeze even more value out of Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to one of Chase’s airline and hotel partners, which include both domestic and international brands, ranging from Southwest Airlines to Hyatt hotels, as well as JetBlue, Air France, and British Airways.

The Amex Platinum won’t give you any more than 1 cent per point when you redeem your points in-house. But if you transfer your rewards to an Amex airline or hotel partner, you could potentially get a lot more value out of them. Amex partners also include British Airways, Air France, and JetBlue.

Both cards offer access to a platform for doing your trip planning and booking in the form of the Chase travel portal and Amex Travel, respectively.

Luxury perks

You can earn free flights and hotel stays with just about any travel rewards card, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum take things to the next level. Both cards offer complimentary airport lounge access, travel-related statement credits, rental car discounts and upgrades, various trip protections, and more.

These benefits can not only save you money while you’re traveling, but they can also enhance your trip experience. Many airport lounges, for example, provide complimentary food and drinks, as well as a quiet refuge from the hubbub of the rest of the airport.

Complimentary credits

Both cards offer complimentary credits for cardmembers. The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. In addition, the Chase Sapphire Reserve also offers a flexible $300 annual travel credit, while the Amex Platinum Card does not. 

However, the Amex Platinum offers up to $200 in Uber Cash annually, up to a $100 annual credit for purchases made at Saks Fifth Avenue, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (five-year plan only), up to $200 in annual hotel statement credits, up to $200 in annual airline fee credits, up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership, up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits, and up to $199 in annual CLEAR® Plus membership credits (note that certain benefits may require enrollment).

Travel perks and other benefits

	Chase Sapphire Reserve	Amex Platinum
Lounge Access	Access to Priority Pass Select network lounges	Access to Centurion, American Express, Priority Pass, Delta Sky Club, Airspace, and Escape network lounges
Elite Hotel Programs	Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection and Relais & Chateaux	Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status; free benefits at The Hotel Collection and Fine Hotel & Resorts
Rideshare and Food Delivery	Two free years of Lyft Pink All Access (if you activate by Dec. 31, 2024); earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually); at least a year of complimentary DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)	Up to $200 in Uber Cash each year
Car Rental Benefits	Premium status with Avis, National, and Silvercar	Premium status with Avis, Hertz, and National
Travel Accident Insurance	Yes	No
Trip Delay Insurance	Yes	Yes1
Trip Cancellation Insurance	Yes	No2
Lost or Delayed Baggage Insurance	Yes	Yes3
Rental Car Insurance	Yes, primary	Yes, secondary4
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation	Yes	Yes
Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit	Yes	Yes
Roadside Assistance	Yes	No
	Learn more	Note that certain benefits may require enrollment Learn more

If you’re considering the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Amex Platinum benefits may provide a lot more value. Not only do you get access to several more airport lounge networks, but you’ll also get complimentary elite status with two major hotel brands after enrollment — something the Chase Sapphire Reserve doesn’t currently offer at all. 

Rideshare and food delivery

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers two free years of Lyft Pink membership (valued at $199/year) if you activate by Dec. 31, 2024, and you can earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually). You also get at least a year of free DashPass from DoorDash membership for $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders over $12 (must activate by Dec. 31, 2027). If you enroll in DashPass, you get $5 DoorDash credits per month.

Compare this to the Amex Platinum that offers up to $200 in Uber Cash each year, if you have an active Uber account and pay with your card. That’s $15 of Uber Cash each month plus a $20 bonus in December to use on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders.

The free Uber Cash on the Amex Platinum is likely better overall because it’s simple and easy. You get a certain amount to use each month and Uber Cash is interchangeable between Uber rides and Uber Eats.

Trip protections

If you want the card with the most travel insurance protections, however, the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be the better choice. Most notably, the card offers primary rental car insurance. This means you don’t need to file a claim with your personal insurance policy at all.

Rental car coverage

American Express offers primary rental car insurance for a fee (which is typically much cheaper than what you’d pay the rental car company), but the coverage that comes with the Amex Platinum is secondary. This means you’d need to first file a claim with your personal car insurance policy, and the card’s coverage will only kick in if there’s anything left over that your insurer didn’t cover.

Which card is right for you?

Neither card is objectively better than the other. Both offer a healthy welcome offer as well as bonus points on certain purchases. So it’s important to know what you want out of a card to know which is better for you.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

If rewards value and flexibility are your top priorities, the Chase Sapphire Reserve wins hands-down, especially if you spend a lot on general travel purchases and dining.

Learn more about this card at our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

Amex Platinum

If you’re not as concerned about getting free travel — maybe you travel a lot for work and aren’t paying for it, or you can easily afford trip expenses — and instead want the card that provides more value in the form of perks, the Amex Platinum is the clear winner between the two.

Take some time to consider your travel habits, preferences, and spending habits to determine which card is best suited for your wants and needs.

Learn more about this card at our Amex Platinum review.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum discussion is important for frequent travelers looking to get more value whenever they’re on the road or in the air. Depending on how often you travel, you could get a lot more value out of these credit card offers than what you pay in annual fees every year. Before you apply for one, though, be sure to compare them with rewards credit cards from other credit card issuers that may also provide you with the perks that you need.

While many other travel cards don’t offer as much value, they may charge more affordable annual fees. There are also other premium travel cards that may be a better fit. (If you want to compare credit cards, check out our article on the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Platinum vs. Citi Prestige.)

Take the time to research and compare all of your options to make sure you get the best travel credit card for you.

Premium Travel Benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Apply Now

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$550

Rewards Rate

5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Up to $300 in annual travel credits
• Great rewards on travel purchases and dining
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• Comprehensive travel protections, including trip delay and cancellation insurance
• 50% point redemption bonus when booking through Chase Travel

Drawbacks

• $550 annual fee
• High spending requirement for the welcome offer
• $75 annual fee for each authorized user

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Author Details

Ben Luthi Ben is a personal finance and travel writer who loves helping people achieve their money goals. Along with FinanceBuzz, his writing has also been featured on U.S. News, NerdWallet, Experian, Credit Karma, and more.

More posts from Ben Luthi >